Device for forming plastic materials



Nov. 9A 1926.

c. a. Pos1-ER DEVICE FOR FORMIN'G PLASTIC MATERIALS Filed May 29 7 Sheets-Sheet' 1 Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,160

, y c. B. FOSTERv DEVICE FOR FORMING PLASTIC MATERIALS Filed May 29, 1922 '7 sheets-sheet '2 Nav. 9 ,19261 1,606,1160' c. B. Fos'rER 'DEVICE FOR FORMING PLASTI MATERIALS Filed May 29, 1922 7 sheets-Sheet -3 Nov. 9 1926.

. C. B.'FOSTER DEVICE Fon FORMING PLASTIC MATERIALS 7 Sheets-Sheet -4 a on w QN 9. o 2 f v. m l l V o @No m .ow .n N H mm m. o 0 U m um.

Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,160

c. B. FOSTER DEVICE FOR FORMINGPLASTIC MATERIALS Filed May 29, 1922 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

ffy/9' Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

cHARLEs B. FOSTER, F iNnIANAPoLIs, INDIANA. Y'

DEVICE FOR FOltlHllI'G` PLASTIC 'MATERIALS Application filed May '29,

My invention relates more particularly to the formation or shaping of cement and Aconcrete structures such as curbs, conduits, walls, and the like, and among the objects thereof are the following: to provide an improved method of operatingr upon plastic I matei'ialg'to provide improved mechanism tor forming or shaping plastic'material; to improve upon mechanism'olfl the character io stated byv constructing it that the pressure used in forming shall graduallyad vani-ethe machine tonew positions wherein more plastic is to betormed; to provide aV machine wherein a plastic may be V'formed continuously in position Iwhere it isto be used and may remain therein as the machineV gradually advances to be in position to shape more plastic; and such further objects,ad 1

rantages and capabilities as will later more fully appeaix My invention further resides inthe combination, 'construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the ac'compan ing drawings, and while'l have sliownft ereinpret'eri'ed embodiments,-I desire the samev tov be understood afs illustrative only and not kas limiting my invention. A l

inthe accompanying drawings,

Fig. lis-a somewhat diagrammatic plan ot mechanism ifor carrying out `my new process inthe' making 'ot a curb. 'v Fig. 2 is an end view ot" one torni-ot mechanism usedin the formation of a curb.'

' Fig is a similar view 'tothat shown in machin-e. l' f Fig. 4A is a pl'anfview ot'thefme'chanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5v is a side elevation of the'mec'ha-V 'nisni shown in Fig. 4. f

Fig. 6 is 'an elevation'of the' "opposite side ot themachine from'[thatshown'v in F ig'. 5. i

Fig. 7 tion substantially along the by the line 7 7, Fig. 4. 1

Fig. 8 .visa longitudinal horizontal `section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 8 8, Fig. 7. y i u Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section substantially alongl the plane indicated by th line 9-9, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section substantially 'along the plane indicated by the line 10e-10, Fig. 7'.

Fig. 11 is a section similar "to that shown is a fragmentary longitudinal lsec- 4 plane indicated Fig. 2 but showing the opposite fiend of *thef 1922." Serial No; 564,300.

in Fig.` 9 Vbut illustrating the machine. in use in forming a curb againstvthe'edge of a sidewalk.

Fig. 12 isaside elevation of a modified 'forni of my new curb forming machine.

. Fig. 1?) is an end View oi' tli-e construction shownv in Fig. 12. i

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section oi the vstructure shown in Figs. 12 and 13.i

Fig. 15V is a side elevation of a further modified form of my invention showing the same employed in the makingv ot conduits for telephone wires kand the like.

Fig. 22'is a vertical section of an end mehr` ber used asA indicated byy dotted lines in FiO.

21. to close :this end of the machine for a purpose which will be disclosed later.

, Fig. 23' is anend'view of another form of my invention', showing the same in use as a curb forming machine. y

Fig. 24 is 'an end view of still another form of construct-ion, the same being shown in the act of forming a curb andgutter.

Referring more in 4detail to the annexed drawings7 numeral Vl designates a plastic construction such as a cement. or concrete curb, a .condu1t, or a wall, while numeral 2 f Vdenotes ingeneral theinachineior forming orV shaping such structure. In the formof .my device shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, vnumerals 3 and 4-designate a .pair-of side forming plates carrying a hopper by means ot' which the plastic material may be Jfed into the space between the Vside plates 3 and 4. Plate 3 hasv pivotally 'mounted thereon a pluralityV of rollers 6, 7 and 8, adapted to `engage tracks 9 and 10, removably secured in heads 11 and 12, which are adjustably carried by blocks 13 and 14. v These blocks are carried, .preferably adjustably, by posts 15 which may be insertedinto the ground as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. 'Stay members 16 Aare pivotally and adjustably connected to posts 15- and stay posts 17 so thatv when posts 15 are driven .into `the ground tothe desired depths and stay posts 17 are driven down in proper positionthe block 18 may be adjusted along post; 15 to true the same up into a truly vertical position. If the posts have not been placed absolutely in alignment, tracks 9 and 10 may be adjusted toward or away from the posts until in proper position as is obvious from the drawings. The T-iron track 9 beingengaged by both rollers 6 and 7 will serve to hold the forming machine against either upward or downward motion. Track 10 will also assist in preventing downward motion of the forming machine by reason of the fact that rollers 8 rest upon said track. "It will therefore be evident that these tracks s ustain the forming machine against lateral tilting,

' act of forming curbs and conduits iny trenches, it will readily be understood lthatl support the same at proper vertical height, and guide itA in its longitudinal movement during the formation ofthe plastic structure.

Though the present device is shown in the the saine may be used in the forming of plastic structures on the surface of the ground if the same is in proper conditionto receive such structure. With the apparatus set up as shown in Figs. 1., 2 and 3, plastic material, such' 'as cement or concrete mixture, is put into the hopper 5 andk tamped down. The compacting apparatus is then actuated by suitable means, 'such as the hand-wheel 20 or lever 21 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 12). Worm 22, carried by shaft ,23, which in turn carries hand-wheel 20, meshes vwith a worm-wheel 24 carried by a shaft 25. This shaft `carries a gear-wheel or pinion 26 which meshes with a rack 27 on rack-bar 28. It will thereforev be seen that as hand-wheel 20'is actuated rack-bar 28 is necessarily reciprocated forwardly and rearwardly to move the plunger 29 so that lthe plasticy composition is compacted between the forming plates 3 and 4.

It will be obvious that the lever 21 actuates the rack-bar28 in a manner similar to that 'described above and-that the same isp'rorack-bar 28 may be reversed as desired. VIt' will be seen that in both of these forms suitscribed.

as ydescribed above, the plastic structu-re 1 vided with appropriate reversingV mechanism so lthat the direction of actuation of the will be 'formed as shown in this figure, with the'fupper end resting tightly against the edge 'of the sidewalk. It will be recognized that this is merely another adaptation of the same device to a different set of circumstances of use. It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the heads 13 and 14 are maintained at the Aproper distance apart by a link 32. A slot 33 (Figs. 7 and 8) is provided in the forwardportion of the former so that'eX- pansion joints can be provided fo-r by the insertion of an appropriate partition member. lt will of course be obvious that when such a member is to be inserted to form the expansion joint, the head 29 must be withdrawn to such a position that the member inserted will be pushed by the head against the plastic material.

By referring to Figs. 12, 13 and 14, it will be seen that there are other differences from the structure heretofore described besides those referred to in thel foregoing description. In this structure, pairs of legs 35, joined at their upper ends, are supported over the place where the plastic material is to be formed and tracks-36 are suspended therefrom by means of bolts 37. Carried by the arms 38 and 39 of a ysuspending frame are rollers 40 which support the forming machine at the proper height above the ground and permit the same to be moved longitudinally as the plastic material is shaped and compacted.

Suspended from the hanger members 38 and 39 is a frame 41 which supports the rest of the structure at the proper height and in operative position. In this form the plates 3 and 4 are shown as replaced by a generally U-shaped forming member 42, though it will be understood that the same type of former as heretofore described may be used if desired. The mechanism heretofore described for actuating the plunger 29 is carried by this frame 41, as will be evident from Sheet 4 of the drawings. In this form there is no lateral sustaining member as was described above, the suspension of the mechanism from the track directly above the location ofthe plastic structure ,being relied upon to keep the apparatus moving in proper alignment. l

Since the conduit does not need to be perfectly straight, the conduit forming machine shown in Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, is not shown as provided with any lateral sustaining means. This structure comprises side and top forming members 44 and 45 secured to and held in place by frame members 4G, 47, 48 and 49. Secured to the frame members-46 is a chute 50 which assists in getting the plastic material inside of the machine. When this plastic material is put into the machine it is tampedinto .position around and between the tube forming members v51 and, when the space is well filled, the handle 21 yis actuated to cause plunger 29 to compact this plastic material within the spaces 44 andv 45. When this plastic material is thoroughly compacted and incapable of being'further fwvh'erl 'beginning the fromfbeng torjn 'up as the machine J p l evvlat'finlellap `r "the'funetionsfare-sbstantiallyhe;

16d-inem@ 19e/r3.2? 1S medew @h1 Y "af'slleevesiirroulding the" post lian ,vided 4with ,la jslot; 8O through when s more eertoreteisr compactedint -.1narks, i

' lever beingprovidedvvitla pin'? Whieh'eXl`" Y tends through'a. slot S8-nl a movableplate'SQ- rality of diagonal slots 90 throughvW/hichex# tendpims 91. Itl'vvilltherefore be seen that e as the lever 86M is'- actuated aboutV itsjpivot iorth above 'Y i @dallaffhemagf into 'arnacliinefand the' n'i'aohineisjfthenf'oper-V p, 'atedjtO Cause-compacting 'offsaidfplastic s Meting force; j 1

1 'f Support postsgfftracks: Carried scribe ipportinp;

- it yand",` 'vv/fhenfthe "eanie is {c'onripae'ted,l moving thelf'forrnlngffnieans "along the sus'tainingH mea-ne',' j nlean'sV for' adjusting said'L 'sustaining.v andy i gui' fonndatlon'. i i

"Inl ya 'device the "elas'sfdeseribed'the means @rela-'tively toll-jsaid. Y

.mounted Lon iafoun'daeen; 'plastici .forming plates, means lnovably 'supportingv said plates on tllevsaid siipportand means for compress- "ing said plastic between the plates torender? Y the same'self-l sustaining, said'lastv named means Serving to advanceftli'e forming plates' the v plasrtio, Y"

to a new'position toy form another section 5. A device of the character described, a support mounted on a foundation, means for adjusting said support both vertically and laterally, forming means inovably supported and .sustained on said support and adapted 4toform a plastic structure in position of use,

. pressed into a solid mass.

I@In 'a device of the class described, a

plurality of standards adapted to be adjustably mounted on ay foundation, a longitudinal support horizontally carried by said standards, means for adjusting` said horizontal support vertically on said standards, .forming means adapted to form a plastic structure movable along said longitudinal sup` port and sustained thereby, means for compacting the plastic and adapted to move said formingmeans along said support into new ,positions as the plastic is compacted.

8. In a structure of the character described, supporting. posts, a track carried thereby', plastic forming mechanism vsupported on said track, and means Vfor vcompressing plastic material in said forming mechanism and forcing the forming mechanism to travel along said track to a new position of use.

9. In a structure of the character described, supporting posts, tracks adjustably carried thereby at a predetermined-p,height above the ground, plast-ic forming mecha-V nism, rollers secured to one side thereof and co-operating with said tracks to support and sustain the forming mechanism in position for operation and capable of being moved along said tracks to new positions of use.

l0. In a structure of the characterv described, plastic forming mechanism comprising a former having closed sides and open ends, a plunger movable between said sides, an extension secured to an end of said former, means carried by the extension for moving the plunger to compact the plastic and advance the forming mechanism, and

means supporting said mechanism during its advancing movement.

11.V In a` plastic forming machine, means for externally lshaping a body of plastic'material, mechanism for compacting the saidk material within the shaping means, said mechanism including a plunger vhaving a supporting member fixed to the plunger, means on said shaping imeans for slidably supporting .said supporting member, an actuating mechanism for said supporting inemsupporting member Ifixed to the plunger,

means on sai'dshaping means for slidably supporting said supporting member, actuating mechanism for said supporting member and plunger, said actuating means effe'cting a gradual advancement of the forming machine as t-lie plastic is formed and compacted, and Vtube forming members carried byand movable with .said plunger for forming continuous passages inthe plastic material.

13. In a plastic forming machine of the character described, having a plastic forming body and mechanism connected therewith for compacting the plastic within the body,A means secured upon one end of the body for placing a scoring upon the surfacerof the finished plastic and means mount-ed upon the body for actuating the scoring means.`

14. In a mechanism of the character described, supporting 'mechanisnn a plastic forming body supported and guided thereby, compacting mechanism carried-bythe body to compact the `plastic within the body, a scoring plate secured slidably upon one end of the body andj means attached tothe body for actuating the scoring plate.

15. In a'mechanism of the character described., meansfor forming, compacting, and ,surfacing plastic material, means for surface marking said material, means foractuating said surface marking means in marking direction, and means to automatically return said marking means to non-marking position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto ,subscribe my name to this-specification.

CHARLES B. FOSTER.`

Certiiicate of Correction..

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,606,160, granted November 9, 1926, upon the application of Charles B. Fester, of Indianapolis, Indiana, for an improvement in Devices for Forming Plastic Materials, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 28, for the numerals 19 to 24 read 19 to lines 55 and 56, for the numerals 19 to 24 read 23 and 24,' line 57, for the numerals 19 to 24 read 1.9 and 20; and that the Said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the Same may conform to the record. 01c the case in the Patent Ofice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of December, A.. l). 1926.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE, I

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

